real time PCR inhibition control

I use real time PCR for the quantification of invironmental samples.
These samples contain many inhibitors and I wish to add a control test that varify the presence of inhibitors left
after the DNA purification.
I heard there is an "alien" probe sequence that is being used which suppose not to accure in any creature genomic DNA
known in the NCBI database.
I undersatnd that poeple use this sequence instead of there own probe sequence between the same specific primers they designed.

If anybody know how to get to these sequences or have any other good test for the persence of inhibitor I would love to hear about it.

Yes, you need an IPC (internal positive control). If you don't want to make it yourself, you can buy a kit from ABI that has everything in it.
One of my student works on soil samples and I know how problematic the inhibitors are.
ABI also developed a TaqMan assay especially for this type of environmental samples (the Taq had an extra purification step so it's not contaminated by bacterial DNA).

Edited by Maddie, 15 September 2010 - 06:33 AM.

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